Thursday, November 19, 2009

Hopefully the wait wasn't too long, but I am delighted to say that I finally got my gray wall! I mixed a couple shades of gray and black to get this deep, rich charcoal.

Like most things, once one thing changes my brain starts working on new ideas and won't let me rest until I feel it is just right. My first instinct was saying that either the wall is too dark or the headboard is too white. The contrast is nice, but it just doesn't seem to have enough charm since there are not really any old pieces in here to give it a little character. So once again, I need opinions!!!First option:Leave the current headboard.

Second option:

I found this antique painting quite a while back, but actually bought it for the frame! It is old, chippy, and even has a small tear so it has been laying in the basement for some time now. I kind of like the mixture of the green/yellow/orange tones against the gray.

Option three:

I have a HUGE frame that I painted white but have nowhere to put it. It is HUGE, and in this picture it is just resting on the painting, but would have about 1-2 inches of space around the painting. This maybe pulls it all together a little better and adds that little bit of elegance, but you can still see the raw edges of the painting.

What do you think? I am definitely leaving the color for the winter, and if it all doesn't come together by the spring I may lighten it up a shade or two. But I am kind of hoping that I pull it off because it is definitely unexpected and really spectacular in person~

I love your grey wall! I think the contrast is too stark with the white, and the picture is not quite right, but a french country headboard with the frame painted a distressed white and upholstered in natural linen would be perfect. Maybe adding some night tables instead of the shelves would add more substance and anchor the space. I also think a beige (maybe seagrass?) rug would be nice. The headboard could probably be found on craigslist and would also add character.

I LOVE the gray wall!!! The deep charcoal looks great! And you already know I am a huge fan of contrast! It kinda reminds me of the viceroy hotel in palm springs (charcoal and white)....My favorite is option 1 (always loved your headboard...maybe recover the headboard in an off white linen??) or option 3.... I also think two antique mis-matched end tables on either side of the bed would break up the contrast and look amazing!!!!Love the change!!!

Love the wall, with the headboard, really great color. I would add splashes of yellow where I could, maybe some ribbon trim on your lampshades or yellow throw pillows, but that's just me because I love yellow with gray. Looks great!!

Love the new grey wall! Love the white headboard too although is it possible to drop it a little? Or is it possible to hang a grey something over it to tie in the color? Can't wait to see what you do. i'm sure there are lots better ideas than mine!

I am loving the gray! That's the same color we are planning on using very soon in my husbands new business - also very exciting! I really like option 1 - I like your headboard it's crisp and clean and modern. What about changing out the night stands? I like the floating shelves, but what about finding some old mismatched chippy paint pieces instead? It would give the antiqued look that I think you are looking for.

i absolutely love the grey wall! Oddly enough, that's the color we are painting the top 3rd of the walls for our family room, so i'm probably biased

and i think option 1 is the best ---perhaps could you add some crown molding to the ceiling, switch out the side "ledges" to (smal) antiquey side tables? Get some flowy white curtains for your windows, and switch the accent pillows for something with a little color.

Love the original headboard. The contrast is wonderful! If you still think it is too stark, you might want to add a couple of throw pillows in a paler gray along with the dark gray you have now...sort of a transition from dark gray to white. But I love it as is!

I say leave the painting without a frame. You have all the elements of a black and white photograph in your room. I think a pop of color that is not surrounded again by white says a lot. I think by itself it can stand on it own, but with white around it...well it just becomes another piece in the room. Either way the room looks romantic and soft! Great job! Oh, I think you could go with missed matched tables too. I just think you need one thing of color that stands on it's own. If not it becomes to much of black and white (gray is essentially black and white).

I also think the gray wall looks incredible and love the white headboard against it. But, I can see where you are coming from with the stark white contrast. Have you thought about taking the white frame apart, painting it a very light gray and using it to frame the outside of the headboard? I think that would look fabulous since you'd be breaking up the contrast of white to dark, and you'd be introducing something with more character. Just a thought...

I really like how the color looks. So rich. I was thinking that you should paint the whole room that color? Love the white headboard.Also love the colors in that painting. It does add that x-tra something. Don't like it by itself. Frame gives it more something, doesn't look as lost behind the bed. Your doing great. Don't get discouraged!

Let me start with saying, I absolutely love that wall color. I am HORRIBLE with picking out paint color and gray is such a tricky one that you've inspired me to start custom mixing my own! :)

I would choose the first option, for sure. That headboard is gorgeous (hope to make one for our guest room one day) and it looks great against the dark wall. I think the room is perfect as is to be honest with you but agree with another blogger (or two) that a couple chunkier shabby nightstands would look great as well.

I am a designer and my favorite little "take it the extra mile" thing to do is to paint my vents, outlet covers, etc to blend in with the wall color.

I love option one with the headboard for the clean, crisp lines. The side tables (shelves) are great too but the outlet covers just stand out too much. Just a little constructive criticism, if I can give it :)

ONLY because you're asking.........IMHO I find the grey just a couple shades too dark and the headboard is too white but some kind of stencil pattern would look good on it. Not feeling the painting at all but really like the big frame if it held something more soothing.......but if you love it nothing else matters

I think the headboard looks fantastic as is. I wouldn't change it. I love the sharp contrast. I don't think the picture fits in well. I love the frame though. Maybe you could find something else to go with the frame?

#1! I would definitely leave the headboard! It looks fab against the charcoal wall! For a bit of charm and elegance, how about switching the lamps for antique lamps? I think that would look AMAZING! =)

love the first picture. in the left corner behind the chair, some type of tree or tall greenery - just to add warmth and texture but not take away from the clean lines and color combo. then balance that with a window treatment. your talent is awesome.

For sure the first option and if not...I will buy that headboard from you! With the first option the room feels more soothing and the chandelier really stands out. It has such a classy appeal. If you wanted to use the 2nd option somewhere else it looks great on that grey color, and feels alot like a Ralph Lauren room, I can see it with a taupe couch and a trendy plaid throw with maybe some equestrian themed accessories or even an industrial table and metal locker baskets. How fun to have a pc. to decorate a room around...it's my favorite thing to do.Paula

I love the wall color and the headboard. If you are looking for something a little more dramatic maybe make a slip cover for the headboard with a pattern. I also love that barnacle vase - I wish they shipped to the states!

For sure I would not choose option 1. For the others I'm not yet sure if it is the right thing. To decide which of those I would need another picture from version 3 which is taken from a bit further away...I'm looking forward to hearing what your final decision was :-).

I do like the contrast, but I would probably tone it down *just* a bit to a less intense shade of gray.

You may want to look at rearranging the furniture too. When I looked at the second pic posted, my initial thought was "What would it look like if the bed and side tables were moved to the left a few feet(as you're looking directly at the foot of the bed), and butting the side table/shelf either directly against the walls (in the corner), or maybe leave just enough room for a floor lamp or tall vase with some dried grasses, tall twigs, etc. Then you could create a reading nook of sorts in the other table with the chair and maybe a small round pedestal table, or tall basket. Maybe find a chair that takes up less space, like a slipper chair? Install curtain rods high up on the wall, and have each tied back at an angle. Sorry this is getting really hard to describe just by writing it. I wish there was some way for me to draw it out, it would make much more sense!

Also, I would add something tall underneath each of the wall shelves to fill in the space. Maybe another tall basket, or a couple vintage trunks.

I would widen the headboard just a bit, so it's just slightly larger than the bed.

This room has such great potential - I can see it as a light, airy space with some romantic overtones. Can't wait to see what you decide upon.

i like the gray wall. i love the headboard. i like everything in the room. BUT i would take the frame and hang it up and down (as opposed to how you have it in the pics) and hang it behind (sorta) the wonderful chair. that way it fills that space and balances that window that is there in the corner. but it all looks great anyway!

I like the color a lot, and the headboard too. But I think it's way too high. The extreme height of the head board seems to narrow the room. Drop it down and see if you can fit that frame above it with a colored painting. The one you posted is good, but I think you can find one that fits or DIY a painting to fit.

Love that Grey Color, this is what I would do...1. Leave your headboard, its amazing and so unique and goes great with your room. 2. can you move that chair to another part of the room? if so move it out and center your bed in between the wall and the window (move the nightstands as well).3. add some drapes to the window next to the bed to soften the grey wall a little bit.

Not sure if you are still reading comments after 107, lol, but I ADORE the wall and I would definitely keep the amazing headboard-I love the contrast which makes both pop. If you decide to not keep the headboard, I know where you can send it :) :)

Option #1 for sure! Love the headboard! Here's my 2 cents, maybe put a large tall mirror with a frenchy white frame leaning against the wall in the corner behind the chair to balance out the window. And some white window treatments layered with a white roman shade? I just think the headboard needs more balance on either side with a little height. :)

Well, I definitely loved the old photos of your room with the big mirror on the side, and the green leafy plants for cheer, so I might've painted the wall a lighter or middle grey, and kept it all that way from before.Though I think you're right that the painting's color really does work with the current wall! Would you have it at that level on the wall, or more centered above the pillows? Norma's idea of a soothing painting like that ocean one would bring back some of the bright airyness I liked before.I couldn't get a good idea of what the frame partly containing the canvas would look like, but I do like the frame; it would almost be cool with nothing inside, hung above the pillows. (And a good front angle of that frame over the bed would help visualize its size, etc.)

I really love your headboard though. Oh! It just occurred to me that I originally found your blog one night when I was determined to make my own headboard, and I found your 'how-to' via a google search somehow! So anyway, if you end up not using that beautiful thing, I'd totally take it off your hands ;)Good luck!

(PS, Bluechimera's ribbon or shiny grey add-ons are cool too! But don't match the outlets and window trim to the wall- middle grey if anything. Another comment made me think to move the bed diagonal in the corner, like your older pics I saw once? And I like how you flip the pillow for different style options.)

Holly, I love your headboard, option #1, I think you could really break up the constrast and add to the room by stenciling the grey wall with a white paint, in a cool pattern. It adds so much! What do you think of this?

I would keep the headboard, and add curtain panels to each end of the feature wall... one over the window on the right, and one just over the wall on the left... to give the room symmetry.They would have to be lined, I'd think... but you could add some curtains in a solid colour (muted turquoise would be my pick), or just tone-on-tone subtle pattern...I think it would also frame the bed out nicely!

I would keep the headboard, and add curtain panels to each end of the feature wall... one over the window on the right, and one just over the wall on the left... to give the room symmetry.They would have to be lined, I'd think... but you could add some curtains in a solid colour (muted turquoise would be my pick), or just tone-on-tone subtle pattern...I think it would also frame the bed out nicely!

I love your room!!! The bed is GORGEOUS. I would keep the white head board as is. How about adding some nice textured or colorful curtains? Or maybe putting smaller lamps or changing the color of the shades? Maria mentioned getting night tables to add more substance and I think that's a good idea. Good luck! Love it!! I found your blog through My Favorite Things and I'm happy I did :)

I LOVE your grey wall with that fluffy white bed. If it's not too late to chime in, however, I would move the painting entirely. It's gorgeous, don't get me wrong, but I'm not seeing it as a "headboard" here.

I think I would try for a shiny/silky/nubby/texture of your choice fabric in *almost* the same grey as the wall (for a monotone look) INSIDE that gorgeous white frame. Kind of a play on the grey/white/grey/white theme. Also mimics the layering you have on the bed - but on the wall.

Just a thought and I'm sure ANYTHING you come up with will be gorgeous!